N.J.-S.P. School Board Adopts Formal Bullying Prevention Policy

The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation now has a system-wide policy in place to deal with bullying. High school assistant principal Kevin Cox says a new state law requires all school systems to have such a policy in place to address this growing problem. Prior to the adoption of this policy, Cox says each building administrator addressed problems in a different way. Now they all use the same forms and follow the same guidelines. Cox adds the policy clearly spells out the school corporation’s obligation to instances involving bullying, including when students are interviewed and parents are notified. One key aspect of the new law is that it addresses cyber-bullying through text messages, emails and social media sites like Facebook. Cox says schools now have the leeway to directly sanction such things if they can prove they happened and involve students in the school. The law also outlines guidelines for anonymous reporting of bullying incidents by students, parents, teachers and others who witness such behavior. Cox says that will soon be possible through the school corporation’s website.